Have you ever wanted to capture a group photo or a perfect selfie without relying on someone else to take the picture? Your iPhone has a built-in feature that makes this incredibly easy. The self-timer on your iPhone camera allows you to set up your shot and then jump into the frame, ensuring you’re always included in the memories. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to take a timed photo on your iPhone, so you can capture the moments you want, exactly how you want them.
Setting Up Your Timed Photo on iPhone
The process is straightforward and can be done directly within your iPhone’s Camera app. Here’s how to activate the timer:
1. Launch the Camera Application
To begin, locate and tap the Camera app icon on your iPhone’s home screen. This will open the camera and prepare it for taking photos or videos.
2. Position Your iPhone
Next, set up your shot. Place your iPhone on a stable surface or tripod, ensuring it’s positioned to capture the photo you envision. Consider the background, lighting, and composition at this stage.
3. Access the Timer Settings
Look for a small arrow at the top center of your Camera app screen. Tapping this arrow will reveal a hidden menu bar at the bottom of your viewfinder.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
4. Find the Timer Icon
Within the menu bar that appeared, you’ll see several icons. Scroll left on this slider until you locate the clock icon. This is the timer control.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
5. Choose Your Countdown Duration
Tap the clock icon, and you will be presented with two timer options: 3 seconds or 10 seconds. Select the duration that best suits your needs, giving you enough time to get into position after pressing the shutter button.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
6. Start the Timer
Once you’ve selected your timer duration, press the shutter button (the white circle at the bottom center of the screen) to initiate the countdown. Your iPhone will now count down audibly, giving you a clear indication of when the photo will be taken. If needed, a stop button will appear allowing you to cancel the timer before it triggers.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
Reviewing and Selecting Your Timed Photos
When the timer reaches zero, your iPhone camera will automatically take a burst of 10 photos. This burst mode increases the chances of capturing the perfect shot, even if someone blinked or moved slightly. Here’s how to review and choose your best images:
7. Open the Photos App
After the photos are taken, exit the Camera app and open the Photos app on your iPhone to access your photo library.
8. Locate the Timed Photo Burst
Find the most recent photo, which will be the first image in the burst series. Tap on this photo to view it.
9. Access the Burst Selection
At the bottom of the photo, tap Select. This action will display all 10 burst photos taken with the timer.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
10. Choose Your Favorite Photos
Scroll through the burst images and tap on each photo you want to keep. Selected photos will be indicated, making it easy to differentiate your choices. If you decide you want to keep all 10 photos, you can skip this step.
11. Finalize Your Selection
Once you’ve chosen your preferred photos, tap Done in the top right corner of the screen.
12. Keep Your Selections
A pop-up menu will appear, asking if you want to “Keep Only # Favorites” (where # is the number of photos you selected) or “Keep Everything”. Choose “Keep Only # Favorites” to save only the images you selected and delete the rest, or “Keep Everything” to save all 10 burst photos.
Tap the down arrow to access timer settings
Conclusion
Taking timed photos on your iPhone is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your photography. Whether you’re capturing group shots, selfies, or creative compositions, the self-timer feature offers convenience and flexibility. By following these steps, you can easily set up and take timed photos, ensuring you never miss out on being part of the picture. Experiment with different timer durations and compositions to fully explore the possibilities of your iPhone’s camera timer.
